Hello again, my freaky darlings. Another week has passed so here we are. This chapter finishes up Third Year. Thank you all for reading, reviewing, leaving comments, and well all the lovely support. I legally own no of this, but enjoy my little musings.
Chapter 7 Endings and Beginnings
Thanks to the stupidity of boys she had plenty of time to complete all her homework and focus on connecting with her inner eagle after Christmas. Give them a shiny toy and their brains shut off. Take it away and they lose the plot. Ron's big mouth had turned most of Gryffindor against her. Harry's Firebolt would give the Quidditch team an advantage, one they especially wanted after the loss against Hufflepuff thanks to the dementors. She retreated to the Refuge frequently to escape the glares and scoffs. The poor treatment continued through January and into February. McGonagall returned the broom in pristine condition just before the Ravenclaw match. Most Gryffindors promptly forgot about the issue. Neither Ron nor Harry apologized. Harry started talking to her again and Ron just asked her to look over his homework. Tired, she simply stared at him before getting up and going to bed.
Hermione mastered the eagle form just before Sirius Black entered Gryffindor Tower and was discovered looming over Ron. Scabbers disappeared again after that. Worse, Ron found a ginger hair on his bed. Neville and Seamus both pointed out it could be his, but Ron insisted it was proof Crookshanks ate the rat. Emotionally and physically exhausted, she struggled to keep everything straight. She missed Charms class once and nearly attended the wrong class, only catching the mistake when she saw herself already in the classroom. Marcus found her sitting in the Refuge furiously writing, piles of parchment surrounding her. "Hermione, how much homework do you have? This can't be normal." She looked up at him, dark circles under her eyes. "When did you last sleep?" The concern in his eyes broke her resolve, she burst out crying. Sobs wracked her frame. He quickly sat down and pulled her into his arms, "Sh, let it out. It'll be okay." As she cried the whole story tumbled out of her. Ron and Harry's repeat abandonment of her, too many classes, helping Hagrid with Buckbeak's defense, and the hopelessness of it. He awkwardly rubbed circles on her back. He would never tell her, but he was starting to hate Potter and Weasley. The kindest person he knew sobbed on his shoulder over them and they didn't care.
She pulled her back, wiping her eyes, "Sorry. I got your shirt wet."
"Nothing to be sorry for, it dries. But you should probably pull back on something. Your last shift can wait. You're years ahead of where other apprentices would be. You have so much on your plate right now. Stop pushing yourself before you snap."
"That is very good advice," she smiled wiping the last of the moisture from her face.
"Yes, but will you listen?" She shrugged. "Will you at least go take a nap?"
"As soon as I finish this assignment," she promised. He sat with her to ensure she fell asleep in the Refuge bedroom. He covered her up with a blanket a house elf provided before leaving her to her slumber.
She continued exploring her wolf form but at a slower pace. She found herself watching Professor Lupin closely, wondering if he had wolfish traits. She concluded werewolves were probably different from wolves overall but considered they could be overlap. Over time Ron dropped his open animosity when once again Scabbers returned, but Hermione kept some distance, expecting the other shoe to drop.
She sat in Divination feeling a headache forming from the cloying incense. Her vision faded out. She felt herself running through the Forbidden Forest towards Black Lake. She saw herself and Harry twice, once over a supine body and again across the water. She shook her head to clear it. Jostling against the table she knocked over the crystal ball resting there causing it to crash to the floor. Trewlaney sniffed and opened her mouth to imply Hermione lacked "proper temperament" for the hundredth time. Hermione snapped, "Balderdash. You either have the gift or you don't. The rest of these are merely parlor tricks used for entertainment. I'm done." She stormed out. Lavender and Parvati took great pleasure tittering that night about Trewlaney predicting Hermione's departure months before. The irony annoyed her. She had just had a premonition before being declared incapable of seeing beyond the Veil.
The uneasy truce became remorseful peace when Hermione showed Harry and Ron Hagrid's note about Buckbeak. Shame showed on their faces when they realized they had forgotten the gamekeeper while Hermione had not. Harry flushed, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I let my own issues overshadow everything else going on this year. That wasn't fair to you."
"Do better," she replied. "Because you're right. You've been shite to me and shite to Hagrid. Not that I let him know I was the only one working on this. He feels bad enough as it is."
Running from her transformed Defense professor, she cursed herself for neglecting her last shifting form. She had no time to focus on it now. As a wolf, she could have lured him off, perhaps distracted him momentarily. But no, she focused on stupid pointless classwork. She stumbled, nearly falling. A wolf howled deeper in the forest. Lupin slowed, his attention peaked. Again a howl called, beckoning the werewolf. He answered and tore off after a possible playmate. She slowed to a walk, sagging in relief. Panting she rejoined Harry. "We need to find Sirius," he cried.
"We will. We need to catch our breaths first. Tonight has been a disaster." The chaos continued as they hurried through the forest. They found Sirius Black unconscious on the shore of Black Lake. A hundred dementors floated closer their intention to Kiss Sirius evident in their movements. Harry raced forward trying to brush them away. Hermione watched in horror, wracking her brain to come up with something to drive them away. Glowing bright in the darkness a stag patronus galloped across from the other side of the thin stretch of water. The dementors scattered then blew away caught in a strong wind.
"Hermione! Did you see that? My dad saved us. He cast his patronus! I saw him." She nodded non-noncommittally, peering through the night where Harry pointed. "Help me. We need to get out of here." She helped him lift Black and half carry/half dragged him out of the forest.
Dumbledore exited the Infirmary, locking the door behind him. Ron moaned again and Harry looked at Hermione expectantly, "What did he mean three turns should do it?"
She pulled the time turner from under her shirt. "A time turner!" exclaimed Ron.
She nodded. "They gave this to me so I could take all the classes. Three turns will take us back three hours. We can save Buckbeak and Sirius."
"We'll be back, Ron," called Harry.
He sighed looking at his broken leg, "I'll be here."
Hermione crossed to the windows and threw one open. She looped the chain around both of them. She spun the time turner three times. The events of the last three hours blurred as they rewound around them. Hermione replaced the chain around her neck. "Rule one: don't be seen by yourself. Rule two: try not to be seen by anyone else when they can see both of you."
They hurried down to Hagrid's hut. They paused to enjoy Hermione slug Malfoy in the face. It looked as good as it felt. They hid in the nearby trees to watch. They warned themselves to leave the hut in time. Then Harry lured Buckbeak into the forest and safety. "One down," whispered Harry. Wordlessly she nodded. They headed through the trees towards the Whomping Willow. They arrived in time to watch the grim drag Ron into the tunnel and crossed to the side they would run to when they emerged later. "Hermione, I have a question."
"Yeah?"
"Are there any wolves in the forest?"
She thought, "I don't know. I don't think so."
"Then who called to Lupin?" Harry asked.
"Again, I don't know. There we are." They watched Snape shield them from the enraged werewolf. "We need to thank him." Harry snorted in response. Sirius attacked Moony to divert his attention causing the two of them to begin running.
"We need to help Sirius," cried Harry. "Where did the wolves come from before?"
A lightning bolt of realization hit Hermione, "Not wolves, wolf. Those calls came from me. I'm the wolf." She took a deep breath and let her desperation fuel the magic. She poured herself into the form in her mind. She pawed the ground and then shook her head.
"Wow, Hermione, you look brilliant," said Harry in an awed voice.
She gave him a nod of her head and nudged him in the direction of the lake. She loped away a bit, planted her feet, threw her head back, and howled. When Lupin didn't respond, she called again. Finally, the call of the wolf proved too strong and the werewolf gave chase. She raced off in the opposite direction of the lake. The larger werewolf gained on her swiftly. Just as he caught up with her, Buckbeak charged him from the side allowing her to escape.
She found Harry watching the dementors gathering. "My dad will save us, Mione, watch." He looked about eager to see his father.
Once again realization hit her hard. She gave him a tight hug, "No, Harry, you saved us. I was the wolf and you were the person you saw, not your dad." She released him and stepped back.
Harry frowned, then steeled himself, "Expecto patronum!" The bright stag burst from the end of his wand and scattered the dementors. Hermione raised a stiff breeze to blow them further apart and further away. They watched themselves drag Sirius out.
"Come on," Hermione nudged Harry, "we need to find Buckbeak."
"What? Sirius is headed to the castle. We have to save him."
She shook her head at his narrow focus. He was missing the bigger picture. "Correct. He needs to get away as fast as possible. Flying will do that and not leave a trail they can follow. We can save more than one life tonight."
"Fantastic." Harry surged ahead moving towards the last area they had
seen the hippogriff. Luckily, they found the beast easily, as if he had been waiting for them.
"You mount Buckbeak," she instructed. "I'll scout ahead. Follow me." She blurred into her eagle form and took flight. Hermione soared over the treetops. Below her, the trees gave way to open grass. No one appeared outside. She circled back as Harry and Buckbeak broke through the branches. She screamed and Buckbeak cried in reply. She could almost understand his meaning. She said follow me and he agreed. She lead him to the clock tower. She shifted back as the hippogriff landed. She pulled her wand, "Alohamora. It really should be harder than that," she muttered to herself.
Harry raced inside, "Sirius, quick, you need to go."
The ragged man climbed to his feet. "Harry," he started in an emotion laden voice. They embraced. "I'm sorry."
"I'm alive, you're alive, nothing else matters right now." Harry pushed him towards the glass door. "But you need to escape. Now."
Sirius hugged him again, "I'll find a way to get back." He held Harry by his shoulders, both smiling at one another. "We'll live together someday. I promise."
Hermione cleared her throat. "Leaving now, promises later. We'll help if we can. But right now you need to leave and we need to get back inside the Hospital Wing. Take Harry with you on Buckbeak down to the open window."
"Just Harry? How are you getting back?' Sirius asked.
"I'm going to fly." She stepped onto the rampart and shimmered into an eagle.
"I see. Fascinating."
By the time the enraged adults returned Harry and Hermione sat on Ron's cot. The three spoke quietly of the evening's events. When accused of helping Black escape, Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Are you suggesting three teenagers managed to overcome Albus Dumbledore's locking spell, then run about the castle unseen, one of us with a broken leg?"
"I, well, no," stammered Fudge.
"Then how would we have helped Black escape? Not that he's the danger. Peter Pettigrew betrayed the Potters and killed the muggles. In the form of a rat, he is now loose and dangerous. He's off to find his master. Remember we tried to warn you." She looked away dismissing them.
One auror glared, clearly annoyed, eyes narrowed, "Perhaps we need to keep you at the ministry for observation. Ensure the werewolf didn't bite you."
"We have no bite marks, so you can be assured," Hermione informed him.
"That we can see."
Harry and Ron stared at her in shock. Hermione was always respectful of authority. Dumbledore watched with interest, like he discovered a new form of entertainment. She stood, pulled her jumper over her head, and dropped her jeans. Arms spread she turned in a circle, "Will this suffice, or do I need to remove my underthings?"
"Galloway, leave off. The kids aren't the enemy," called a tall dark skinned man. His eyes danced with amusement, though his deep voice expressed none. Hermione tugged her top back on still staring at Galloway as if daring him to challenge her again. The ministry lost quite a bit of her respect over the last school year. Not that they knew, or cared, yet.
Released the next morning, Hermione climbed the stairs to the room at the top. Amira looked surprised to see her so early in the day. Wordlessly she shifted from human to adder to golden eagle to wolf and back to human. "Well done, my druid. Soon you will have your initiation ritual. Consider which one you want to use." Hermione nodded. "Now, sit. The time has come to discuss your path going forward."
"And Lyall's offer."
"And Lyall's offer," agreed Amira. Hermione sat on the closest chair. "To be the Light-Amid-the-Dark is to walk a difficult path. Many are lost to the darkness, to evil, because they cannot see another way. They feel alone and hopeless. Few truly revel in evil. On this path your world cannot be black and white, but every shade of gray."
"I think I understand. Things aren't just wrong or right. Actions can be legally right but morally wrong. Or people can have complicated motives for doing things."
Amira nodded, "And you will have to be willing to help them regardless of their actions, especially the ones personal to you."
"I understand," replied Hermione.
"You believe you do. Think of your worst bully," Amira suggested.
"Pansy Parkinson," Hermione nodded.
"Can you find something positive in her?" Amira asked. "Could you give your life to save hers?"
"Maybe," answered Hermione honestly, "I don't know."
"If she joined Lord Voldemort and then regretted it, would you help her escape, even at great danger to yourself?"
Hermione nibbled on her bottom lip, "I want to be able to."
"Very well, your apprenticeship is over. We will work on fine tuning your knowledge of healing herbs, potions, and poultices beyond the basics. And I will be here to discuss the grays of your world."
"And Lyall's offer?" Hermione asked.
"Has he mentioned the Tempest to you?"
"Yes, so did the centaurs," Hermione answered slowly. "No one explained anything though."
"Do you remember the tales about Sorsha of Merthyr Mawr?"
"She defended her home and people from the Romans with a rain of fire."
Amira nodded, "Correct. She was a Tempest. The Tempest is a human member of a fae group, usually the Wild Hunt. They are trained by the fae in the greater manipulations of the elements." She paused, "In the coming conflict you would be thrust into the center because of this."
"I think that's going to happen regardless of my choices here."
Amira looked grave, "Neither path is easy, young druid."
"I never have been good at doing things the easy way," chuckled Hermione. "I'll think about it. I have time. But I admit I am leaning towards yes to both."
"As I suspected, young one. Do you remember what you need for your ritual?"
"Yes, master. I have my book." She purchased her own copy at Tomes and Scrolls to be able to have it available away from school.
"Very good. Be well. I will see you in your new school year."
"I will see you then." Quietly, she made her way to her bed and slept. She dreamt of twisted stunted trees covered in moss. Then running and fighting. Finally, she dreamed of striding from the Forbidden Forest flanked by Marcus and Theo, lighting striking wildly around them. "Join us or face the consequences. Your vaulted lord is a liar and hypocrite." She woke before the battle commenced.
On the train ride home, Ron acted like nothing had happened over the last year. He prattled on about summer plans and the excitement of Sirius's escape. He never asked about Hermione's training or her classes. He expressed interest in the shenanigans they could get up to with the time turner. "I gave it back," she admitted.
"What? Why would you do that?" he cried disappointed.
"If I drop Muggle Studies and Divination I can have a normal schedule. A heavier one, but not one that requires a time turner. It was more trouble than it was worth."
"But," he protested.
"It's done, Ron. And seriously, I was constantly tired, I always had to remember where I was, who I was with, and what was said. More trouble than it was worth."
"Still."
Harry intervened, "Leave it, Ron. If Hermione says it wasn't worth it, it wasn't worth it." He steered the conversation in a neutral direction hoping a summer apart might ease some of the tension between the two, or perhaps he could get Ron to apologize for being a git.